Chemical Dependency Professional Requirements in Washington

Washington's addiction counselors are credentialed by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). Certification as a Chemical Dependency Professional is based on meeting education, examination, and supervised practice requirements. Individuals may hold Chemical Dependency Professional Trainee status while they are working toward meeting requirements.

Addiction counselors who are coming under Washington jurisdiction may use third party certifications to demonstrate that some requirements have been met.

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Examination Requirement

Certification depends on successful examination performance. Candidates attempt the examination after other requirements have been met. Washington will accept either the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) or International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (ICRC) examinations. The IC&RC examination must be Level II or higher; Level I is acceptable on the NAADAC exam (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ChemicalDependencyProfessional/ExamSchedule.aspx).

Supervised Experience Requirement

Experience requirements vary, depending on educational level. Professionals who hold associate's degrees in human services or other related fields must accrue 2,500 hours of supervised experience (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=246-811-046). Those who hold bachelor's degrees in qualifying fields must do 2,000 hours; if the degree is at the master's or doctoral level, the requirement is reduced to 1,500 hours. The following are considered related degrees: behavioral science, counseling education, criminal justice, divinity, health education, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, psychiatry, psychology, and social work. Professionals who are licensed as advanced registered nurses, advanced or independent clinical social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, or mental health counselors are required to complete only 1,000 hours.

Experience must be accrued under an approved supervisor. The first 50 hours of direct client contact will be under the observation of the supervisor or another chemical dependency professional. On the application form, the supervisor will verify 100 hours of face-to-face clinical evaluation, 100 additional hours of clinical evaluation, 50 hours of discussions pertaining to ethical and professional responsibilities, and 600 face-to-face counseling hours. The number of hours spent in transdisciplinary foundations will vary by degree level. Experience that took place more than seven years in the past cannot be credited.

The trainee credential must be renewed annually. An individual can renew four times and hold the credential for a maximum of five years. The licensing agency notes that individuals who lose trainee status may still be eligible for other credentials, for example, certified adviser or agency affiliated counselor. Options will depend on educational level.

Applicants at the professional level will need to submit official transcripts. Transcripts that are not in English must be translated and evaluated. Syllabi may be needed if course titles do not clearly reflect topics. Supervisor verification will also be required (except in the case of NAADAC or IC&RC certified candidates).

The Department of Health utilizes the Washington State Patrol database for criminal background checks (http://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/FingerprintBackgroundCheck.aspx). Out-of-state candidates are required to have fingerprint-based background checks. Candidates with criminal backgrounds may also be required to have their fingerprints made. The DOH will notify those who need to go through the fingerprinting process.

Out-of-State Addiction Counselors

Candidates must request verification from all states where they have held licensing; on the application, they must list all states where they have applied, even if a credential was not granted.

Out-of-state addiction counselors can be certified by reciprocity if their state has similar requirements. Washington has reviewed the licensing policies of most other states to determine which are substantially equivalent. The following were found not substantially equivalent: California, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, and West Virginia. Some states have more than one credentialing level. Out-of-state addiction counselors can view the DOH list to see which credentials from their home state can be accepted (http://www.doh.wa.gov/ChemicalDependencyProfessional/SubstantialEquivalency.aspx).

Candidates who have passed the examination may have their scores verified by the state. Candidates who hold international IC&RC certification or national NAADAC certification may have their credential verified by the certifying body. Candidates who verify certification will need to provide transcripts documenting that they have the required semester hours, but will not need to document addictions coursework or supervised experience. The application form states that 30 semester hours must be verified beyond those required for certification.